Control apparatus



March 3, 1953 c.,H. PRIESMEYER 2,630,055

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1948 INVENTOR.

CME; E5 H. law/E5 MEYER Patented Mar. 3, 1953 CONTROL APPARATUS CharlesH. Pries'meyer, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Minneapolis-HoneywellRegulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of DelawareApplication July 23, 1948, Serial No. 40,313

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a slidable adjusting knob assembly foran air outlet register. Air outlet registers have in the past used aprojecting lever for operating their damper blades but this constructionis relatively unsightly and the projecting lever is a potential cause ofminor accidents. Use of a slidable adjusting knob movable over a portionof the front face is complicated by the requirement that there must beno noticeable rubbing of painted surfaces of the register even afterseveral re paintings of the guide. It is thus an object of thisinvention to provide an improved adjusting handle for an air outletregister.

It is a further object to provide a slidable knob arrangement for aregister which is easily attached, attractive in appearance and does notproject unduly from the front of the register.

Itis an additional object to provide an adjusting knob assembly arrangedto minimize injury to adjacent painted surface.

It is a somewhat similar object to provide an adjusting knob slidablealong a slotted member and guided so that contact with the member on theexposed side is only along the slot forming edges of the member.

It is also an object to provide a slide knob arrangement that can beused with a register adjusting lever with a minimum of change of thelever.

It is a further object to provide an adjusting knob arrangement that iseconomical to manufacture and easy to assemble.

These and other objects will become apparent upon a study of thefollowing specification and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of a register with an adjustingknob for its damper blade.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, enlarged, taken `on the line 3-3 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is an elevation view of the back side of the knob of Figures 1to 3.

\ in Figure 8.

The present knob arrangement, while applicable to registers of varioustypes and construction, is especially intended for those of the sortdisclosed and claimed in the copending applica- 5 diffuser blades II,damper blades I2 and I3, a

linkage I4 for simultaneously operating the blades, and a pivoted leverI5 for operating said linkage. As disclosed in the above citedapplication, and as used in practice prior to this invention, lever I5was made sufliciently long to extend through slot I6 in channel memberII and thus form an operating handle, member I1 being part of the frontface of the register. Linkage I4 comprises, in addition to link I5, a

link 6I rigidly attached to blade I2 and a link 62 pivotally attached toblade I3 and pivoted to link 6I at 63, pivot 63 being located about 1/3the length of pivot 6I from its free end. A short link 64 is pivotallyattached at 65 to the end of link 6I, with its other end being pivotallyconnected to the end of link I5 at 66. Link I5 is pivotally attached tolink 62 at 61, pivot 61 being relatively near the end of link I5 and inthe upper portion of link 62. This arrangement forms, in effect, apartial toggle linkage comprising the end portion of link I5 and link 64which, in adjusting the distance between pivots E5 and 61 adjusts theangular relation of links 6I and 62 and thus the opening of the damperblades I2 and I3. The adjustment of the toggle linkage is eiected by theremaining or lever portion of link I5, the linkage being such thatmovement of link I5 in a direction to reduce the distance between pivots65 and 61 tends to open 35 the blades whereas a reverse movement tendingto lengthen the distance between said pivots adjusts the blades to aclosed position, friction tending to hold the parts in their adjustedrelation.

As shown in Figure 2, lever I5 is cut off in back o of member I'I `andfits loosely in a hole or slot I9 in the back side or base portion 20 ofa clip or slide member 2I. Sides 23 of said member are bent at rightangles to base 20 and, spaced from 20, upper and lower pairs ofin-turned guide tongues 24 and 25 are bent from said sides 23, saidtongues 24 and 25 lying in a plane substantially parallel to baseportion 20. Tongues 24--25 areY arranged to `slide along the rear edgesof the flanges 26 of channel member I'I, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.Intermediate the upper and lower guide tongues o f member 2|, arms 30eX- tend outwardly from sides 23 in a straddling relation to member I'I,member 2I being sufiiciently wide that the distance between arms 30 55is appreciably greater than the width of chanco An adjusting knob orhandle is arranged the arms 3G should loosen somewhat, rib 36 ispreferably surmounted, in eiect, by ann or rib 39 having parallel sidesand formed integral with rib 38. Obviously, n 3&7v is somewhat narrowerthan slot l5 and, .because it extends through slot I6, is particularlyVuseful in preventingr twisting movements of said knob.

With knob 35 and slide member -ZI'assembled as described above, andlever I5 vprojecting through opening i9, vertical movements of knob 35Will cause lever I5 to operate dampers I2 and I3 through linkage Iii.Because of the loosefit of lever I5 in hole I9 and the spacing ofportion from tongues 24-25, and thus from channel member I'l, thedistance between member I'I and theend oflever I5. is permitted` to varyappreciablywithout interfering with the purely vertical movementsof knob35. As the only contact between knob and member 2| with member I'l isbetween tongues 2425Y and` the rear edges of flanges 26v and between rib38, and, possibly 1in 39, and the slot forming edges ofY I'I, it isapparent that' thev exposed painted surfaces of member I1, with theexception of the edges'along slot I6, are protected from rubbing andmay, if desired, be.l repainted several times without interfering withthe operation of the present apparatus.

While the barbed arrangement for the ends of arms 30 is considered apreferred construction, .a modified knob: 43, similar to 35, mayA haveoppositely arranged sockets'4l and 42 formed in its sides, as shown inFigures Sand 7, to receive inturned ends 44 and 45,' respectively, orarms 46, withrecesses 4Ifbeing formed to receive the adjacent portionsof said arms. Except for the knob attaching portion, armslitcorrespondtc"30- in the example above. y

*Inaddition,.v as a further modification, rknob "5,ILiirifliiguref8,1generallysimilarV to knobs 35; and 43, has spaced jrearwardly extending `armsj52 molded in Asaid knob; the free ends' oflsaidy arms hayingrectangular holes 53j for interlocking Vwith oppositelydisposed'tongues 542 of Vslide member Y55. Member 55; besti'shownin'Figure 9, is essentially thesame as '2 iipreviously describedexceptling-that tongues 54 Vare formedv inthesame-plane y'as the baseportion of thejmember andno arms ncorrespondingtc 3D orv Mareprovidedforsaid member, "the connecting arms, as above mentioned, beingformedasipart'offits associated As a study of the above .disclosure maySuggest other substitutions. and equivalent constructions,

the scope. of this invention isto .be determined ,only bythe appendedclaims.

Iclaim as my invention: 1.Y In -a register having adjustable dampermeansa movable lever for operating said damper ,meansy achannelmemberarrangedv in front of ranged 'parallelj tothe plane ofemovement of saidlever, a clipv member, means operatively connect- As .further assurancethat the knob will be accuratelvguided .even

ing said clip member to said lever, said clip member having inturnedtongues slidable along the edges ofthe ilanges of said` channel member,said clip member having spaced: armsiextending outwardly past saidchannel member on opposite sides thereof, and a knob attached to saidarms and arranged on the front side of said member, said knobincluding aprojecting generally con- Vex guide, rib. of Y greater width than theslot in said member Aand slidable along the edges of sald slotiforspacing the rest of said knob from said member and for preventing saidarms from engaging said'channel member.

2. In a register including adjustable damper means and having a frontface portion, a relativelynarrow elongated slotted member arranged in.said'face portion, said slotted member having front'and rear portions,an'adjustingknob -having rearwardly extendingv guide means movable alongsaid slot and ofsuch size and shape as to contact said member only alongthe` edges of-said slot, arear slide 4member having slide portionsfacing Said knob` and engageable with kspaced rear portions of saidslotted member spaced byv said slot, spaced relatively rigid connectingmeansarranged in straddling relation to said slotted member andconnecting said knob to said slide member, said connecting` means beingVspaced sufficiently to avoid rubbing Aon said elongated. slotted member,and means for operatively connecting said slide member to saidv dampermeans.

3. In a register having a front yface portion and including adjustabledamper means, an elongated relatively narrow slotted member arranged insaid face portion, an operating lever for said damper'means movable in aplane parallel to the slot in said slotted member, a slider member.means operatively connectingsaid .slider member to said lever,V saidslider member being movable alongthe backside of said slotted member,-an adjusting knob having a xedlyvrelated generally convex ribA portionmovable alonggthe" front side of said slotted member, said rib portionextending intosaid slot andengagngthe slot dening edges of said member,the knob otherwise being-spaced from said slotted member4 by. saidribportion,1,and a pair of relatively' rigid connec;ting members forconnecting said slide ,memberL tof said'knob; said erm members beingSpacedfrem VSeid. Slotted .member by. more than the widthpf said memberand prevented from rubbing againstlsaidmember by thesuidine eeet. .ofthe ,rib 'portioniefsaid said -movable member, upper andY lower. pairsof inturnedl tongue membersV connected to" said back side portion andarranged ina yplaneiparallelto and: spaced'- fromf saidback'side-'portiona pair of arm membersconnected -to' the oppositesi'desor said slide member; intermediatethe upper-'and lower tongue membersand extending perpendicularly.: away from said backside portion,theouter ends of said arm members having rearwardly di.-

- rectedbarb mea-nsrand an adjusting: knob having spaced-:socketfzportions.. inserted :over: said .arm 'L memberseand held in place..bpsaid barbemeans,

said knob including a projecting guide means arranged to bear againstthe slot forming edges only of said narrow slotted member, said guidemeans being formed between said socket portions and extending lengthwiseof said slide member.

5. A knob assembly for use with a device having an elongated exposedmember with a longitudinal slot and having a member movable inapproximate alignment with said slot comprising, in combination, arectangular slide member having a back side portion, means foroperatively connecting said back side portion to such a movable member,upper and lower pairs in inturned tongue members connected to saidportion and arranged in a plane parallel to and spaced from said backside portion, a pair of arm members connected to the opposite sides ofsaid slide member intermediate the upper and lower tongue members andextending perpendicularly away from said back side portion, inturnedtongues on the outer ends of said arm members, and an adjusting knobhaving oppositely disposed sockets for receiving said tongues forthereby securing said knob to said slide member, said knob having arearwardly projecting convex guide rib arranged to coact with the slotforming edges of said elongated exposed member.

6. A knob assembly for use with a device having an elongated exposedmember with a longitudinal slot and having a member movable inapproximate alignment with said slot comprising, in combination, arectangular slide member having a back side portion, means foroperatively connecting said back side portion to said movable member,upper and lower pairs of inturned tongue members connected to saidportion and arranged in a plane parallel to and spaced from said backside, a pair of oppositely disposed tongue members in the plane of saidback side portion and arranged between the upper and lower inturnedtongues, and an adjusting knob having spaced rearwardly extending armmembers each having a recess for coacting with its respective oppositelydisposed tongue, said knob having a rearwardly projecting convex guiderib arranged to slide along the slot forming edges of said elongatedexposed member and to space the other portions of said knob from saidmember.

7. A knob assembly for use with a device having an elongated relativelynarrow member exposed to view and manually accessible, said narrowmember having a front side and a back side and having a longitudinalslot, said device having a member movable in approximate alignment withsaid slot, said knob assembly comprising, in combination, a rectangularslide member having a base portion, said member including upper andlower slide portions adapted to engage the back side of said exposedmember, means for operatively oonnecting said base portion to saidmovable member, an adjusting knob having an` integral generally convexrearwardly projecting guide rib arranged to slide along said slot and tospace said knob from the front side of said exposed member, and spacedconnecting means arranged in straddling relation to said elongatedmember for connecting said knob to said slide member, said connectingmeans being spaced apart more than the width of said narrow member.

8. In a device having an exposed and manually accessible relativelynarrow slotted face member with front and back sides, an adjusting knobarranged in front of said member and having guide means movable alongthe slot in said member, said guide means being generally convex insection and of greater width than said slot and engaging said memberonly along the edges of said slot, a rear slide member having forwardfacing slide portions engageable with the rear portions of said facemember and movable along the back side of said member, and spacedconnecting means arranged in straddling relation to said slotted facemember and firmly connecting said adjusting knob to said slide member.

9. In a register including adjustable damper means and having arelatively narrow slotted member exposed to view and manuallyaccessible, an operating lever for said damper means movable in a pathsubstantially parallel to the slot in said member, a slider member,means operatively connecting said slider member to said operating lever,said slider member being movable along the back side of said slottedmember, and an adjusting knob iixedly attached to said slider member,said knob having convex guide means on its back side for engaging onlythe slot forming edges of said slotted member, said guide means beingwider than said slot so that said knob is spaced from the surfaces ofsaid slotted member by said guide means.

10. In a register including adjustable damper means and an operatinglever therefor, an exposed and manually accessible register face memberhaving a slot substantially in alignment with the path of movement ofsaid lever, a clip member having means for connecting said clip memberto said lever and movable along the black side of said exposed member,an adjusting knob movable along the exposed face of said registermember, and rigid connecting means connecting said knob to said clipmember, said knob including convex guide means for engaging only theslot forming edges of said register member, said guide means spacingother parts of said knob from said exposed member.

11. In a device including a movable member and an operating levertherefor, a longitudinally extending relatively narrow exposed andmanually accessible member of said device having a front side and a backside and having a slot substantially parallel with the path of movementof said lever, a clip member having means for operatively connectingsaid clip member to said lever and movable along the back side of saidmember, a knob movable along the front side of said member for movingsaid clip member, and spaced arms attached to and extending from saidclip member for straddling said exposed member and attaching said knobto said clip member, said knob including a xedly related rearwardlyextending longitudinal guide rib movable along said slot, said rib beingconvex in section and of a size sumcient for spacing said knob from saidexposed member, said arms being sufficiently spaced and so guided bysaid rib that they avoid contacting said narrow slotted member.

CHARLES H. PRIESMEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of rec file of thispatent: om in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 674,915 GiarthMay 28 1901 1,749,778 Petreui Mar. 11 1936 1,961,948 Symonds June 5 1934

